Dutton’s vetting drive slashes 20,000 from Australia’s migrant intake

The annual permanent migration intake has fallen by more than 10 per cent to less than 163,000, marking the lowest level for more than a decade on the back of a crackdown on fraudulent claims and a sharp rise in visa refusals under the government’s new integrity measures.

The Australian has confirmed that tougher vetting rules imposed by Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton have cut 21,000 from the annual intake, returning it to levels last seen in 2007.